Reversible woven elastic fabric



Patented Aug. 22, 1939 AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE WOVEN ELASTIC FABRIC- Application November 22, 1938, Serial No. 241,771

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a reversible woven elastic fabric suitable for use in the manufacture of corsets and girdles and for other similar purposes.

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved construction in such fabrics by which the fabric is given certain very desirable characteristics.

' My improved fabric is soft, pliable and porous, is reversible with both sides alike in appearance, has satisfactory stretch in two directions, effectively restrains the slip of the component threads both warp-Wise and weft-wise, and has the general appearance of a high-grade, hand-knit fabric.

To the attainment of the general object above set forth, I provide an improved weave or fabric construction, the details of which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a reversible woven elastic fabric;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan View of the Weave used in my improved fabric; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified Weave.

Referring to Fig. 2, I have indicated diagrammatically a portion of fabric comprising weft threads I which are commonly non-elastic, back leno elastic warp threads I I, and front leno elastic warp threads I2, no non-elastic warp threads being used in the body of the fabric.

'I'he elastic leno warp threads I2 are inserted in the fabric in associated pairs and the threads are preferably oppositely disposed in adjacent pairs as clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

In weaving the fabric, a plurality -of picks of weft threads I0 are interwoven with the elastic warp threads II and I2, after which the warp threads are crossed in the usual manner of leno weaving and another group of weft threads is /inserted, following which the warp threads are again crossed but in the opposite direction.

.In the drawing, I have shown three picks of weft thread inserted after each leno crossing of the warp threads, but more or less picks of filling may obviously be used if desired.

With the construction shown and described, the front and back of the fabric are identical in appearance, and all ofthe threads, both warp ,warp threads in pairs, said warp threads being fabric. Furthermore, the pairs of elastic leno threads may be spaced apart to provide a desired porosity, together With a suitable side-wise stretch. The finished fabric is of a peculiarly soft and pleasing texture and closely resembles 5 a high-grade hand-knit fabric.

The construction shown in Fig..3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the front and back leno threads 20 and 2| are crossed twice between adjacent groups of weft threads I0, and l0 an additional weft thread 22 is inserted between the two successive crossings of the leno warp threads.

In both constructions, the warp threads in the body of the fabricl are all elastic and the weft threads are preferably non-elastic. 'Ihe weft threads are sufficiently crimped or contracted by the leno Warp threads, however, so that a desirable transverse stretch is provided in the fabric,

while the longitudinal stretch may be in any desired amount, either as to stretch or tension.

The reversibility of the fabric is a substantial commercial advantage, as it permits the fabric to be cut to the very best advantage and makes it impossible for the operator to assemble any 25 part of a garment with the wrong face outward.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A reversible woven elastic fabric which is substantially alike on both faces and which comprises weft threads in groups, and elastic leno warp threads in pairs, said warp threads being interlaced and interwoven with a plurality of picks of the weft threads of each group without crossing and being crossed between adjacent groups of weft threads, and the warp threads of adjacent leno pairs being crossed in opposite directions after being interwoven with a glvenl/ group of weft threads. W

2. A reversible woven elastic fabric which is substantially alike on` bothV faces and which comprises weft threads in groups, and elastic leno interlaced and interwoven with a plurality of picks of the we ft threads of each group without crossing and being crossed andfrecrossed between adjacent groups of weft threads, and an additional weft thread being inserted between each .crossing and recrossing of said leno warp threads.

HOWARD F. LCRD. 

